Goan Style Egg curry (Coconut based gravy)

Hi all, today I am very excited as I am going to do a guest post on my blog. This is my very first guest post and I am so happy that it's none other than Mr.Sushant Varma (My husband). He is a very good cook and more important - loves to cook. He is an IT professional and doesn't get much time, but whenever he is free he does it, specially on weekends. Last weekend we went together for a group meet of Chef at Large, its one of the biggest foodie group on Facebook having more than 32000 members. There we had a secret ingredient swap (Every member got an ingredient, which was not revealed to other members, then they were shuffled and distributed back). Me and Sushant both are the members, hence we both participated in it. He got a fresh whole coconut, with which he had to prepare a dish. 

So he decided to prepare a Goan egg curry. We prepare egg curry frequently but the normal way its made, never tried it before but must say will be switching to this curry now more often. Won't be taking much time and straight away directing to Sushant.

"When I left home for my further studies, had various choices with food and had no idea about cooking. I went to New Delhi and had almost same options on most of the food joints with the same kind of taste. As very well said that “Necessity is the mother of invention” (for me cooking was an invention). I started cooking, but with a big question mark. Tried and failed many a times but somehow learnt the basic stuff. Then went to Mumbai for work and spent almost 3 years there. Great place with great people must say. There I learnt lot many varieties and got to know a lot about Goan food from one of my Goan friend. When cooking converted to passion from necessity never knew. But as an IT professional it’s so tough to take out time and continue our passion. I got married and that too with a foodie. Bas phir kya tha the journey began. Still I don’t get a lot of time, but can see my passion through my wife’s eye. So after a very long story here is the Recipe."
 
Recipe is for 2 portions, you can always increase the ratio as per the people.

Ingredients-

• Eggs : 4 nos
• Onions : 2 medium
• Garlic : 4-5 cloves
• Ginger : 1” piece
  
• Fresh Coconut : ½ cup (remove the brown part)
• Coconut milk : ¼ cup
• Tomato paste : 1 tomato (I used concentrated hence 1 tbsp)
• Tamarind pulp : 1 tsp
• Whole red Chili : 1
• Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
• Coriander seeds : 1 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder : ¼ tsp
• Red chili powder : ½ tsp
• Garam Masala : ½ tsp
• Salt : As per the taste
• Coconut oil – 2 tbsps (You can take any vegetable oil too)

Method -

• Roughly chop ginger, garlic, onions and coconut.
• Boil eggs
• Heat oil in a pan. Once hot, add whole red chilies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and then garlic and ginger. Once done, add onions and sauté till they change the color to pink. Add coconut and again sauté till you get nice golden brown color. Add the powdered spices and tomato paste and fry until oil oozes out. Add tamarind pulp and stir. Now cool down the mixture and blend to a paste. In the same pan, pour it back and cook. Add coconut milk and stir continuously till a boil comes. Add salt and boiling water (if required). You can adjust the gravy consistency by adding water. Now add the boiled eggs cut into two and cover the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Garnish it with green coriander. Enjoy with Chapati, or steam rice.

Thanks
Sushant

Thanks a lot Sushant for sharing this wonderful recipe with us :)) 

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Baked Papdi/Baked crackers

These days I am on a mission of healthy snacks which have a longer shelf life and can be enjoyed guilt free. In our Indian homes, the most famous snacks are mathri, but........they have huge amount of ghee in it :((((, I can't even imagine the number of calories they have!!!!!. But at the same time they are so so addictive that one can't resist to have just one :))).  This is human tendency I believe, the food which is unhealthy is loved most and we always don't prefer healthy ones :). One fine day we friends were discussing about the same on a group chat, found that most of the people have green tea but just as a sake to have it and never preferred it above their proper Indian ginger tea :))). But at the same time there are many more who love to have it, I am among them.

I have a habit of munching something after every 2-3 three hours, need some biscuits, flakes or anything. If I have anything which is high in calories and have high fat content, then I am gone. So therefore I planned to have healthy snacks with full of flavours. Sushant's colleagues demanded for some Indian samosas (proper aloo one). So I prepared in a very large batch and was left with some dough. My mother always used to fry mathris from the left over dough and I am sure you all too do the same thing :)))). But I gave a new twist to it and just baked them and voila the results were outstanding - crisp, crunchy and light. Goes amazingly good with a cup of tea. As it was from the samosa dough hence made from Maida/ All purpose flour, but next batch I will prepare from whole wheat flour and soon share the results. So here is the recipe, its quite simple and easy to prepare, hope you all will like it too.

Ingredients :

• All purpose flour - 1 cup
• Vegetable oil - 2 tbsps (I used Olive oil)
• Carom seeds/Ajwain - 1 tsp
• Salt as per the taste
• Warm water - 1/4 cup (to knead the dough)

Method :

• Mix all the ingredients (except water) in a big bowl. 
• Now add little by little water, we need to have a stiff dough (not very soft). You can always adjust the amount of water. Once done cover and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
• Now divide the dough into two parts and roll like thin chapati. With the help of a cookie cutter or a bottle's cap cut into desire shape. Place them on baking tray, lined with butter paper/aluminum foil.
• Bake them on the middle rack at 180 ° C for about 18-20 minutes, do flip them in between. Mine were done in exactly 20 minutes but every oven varies in terms of power hence would advise to keep an eye.
• Also if u want dark brown color, then put them on broil (on the top rack with temperature 220 ° C) for just 30 sec. But make sure that you don't move from there as they might burn.
• Take them out from the oven, let them rest in baking tray for 5 minutes and then transfer on to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled store them in an air tight jars. These will remain good for a month.
• Now prepare a nice cup of tea and have them with a cute smile :)

Note : You can add flavours of your own choice like - chili flakes, kasuri methi/Dried fenugreek leaves, Italian herbs too if you like :)

Do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :)

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Enjoy making them :)

Thanks & Happy Baking
Priyanka :)

Avocado Kebabs

In continuation with my love towards Avocados, here is one more savory dish - The Avocado Kebabs. I never tasted Avocados while I was in India, but heard a lot about them. When I shifted to London the first thing which I tried was Avocados, I didn't like them as their taste were quite subtle but yes they taste nice in Guacamole & salads. But why just in salads or dips ??? Tried out some recipes with it and would say that its an amazing ingredient I found. Firstly I just tried it as a patty in burgers and yes its a hit in my house. You can find the link for Burgers here - Avocado Patty Burgers

And now its the time for Kebabs. Trust me they are so moist and just out of the world. My husband has forgotten the non-veg ones :)))). Secondly they can be made zhatpat without any mess and with very few ingredients. Last week I had a Tea party at my place so prepared some and it was quite appreciated by all the guests. I usually purchase Avocados 2-3 days prior and let them ripe completely till they are soft. This gives a nice texture as well as the taste. So lets quickly see the ingredients followed by the method.

Ingredients :

• Avocado - 1 nos
• Onion - 1 small (finely chopped)
• Suji/Rava/Semolina - 1 tbsp
• Cornflour - 1 tbsp
• Garlic powder - 1 tsp
• Chili flakes - 1/2 tsp
• Garam Masala - 1 Pinch (optional)
• Salt - 1/4 tsp (or as per the taste)
• Oil - 1 tbsp

Method :

• Slit the fully ripped Avocado and take out the seed. Now scoop the pulp in a bowl and mash with a spoon.
• Add onions, Suji, Cornflour, Garlic powder, Chili flakes, Garam Masala and salt to it. Mix well. (You can also use chopped garlic of garlic paste in place of garlic powder)
• Apply water on to your palms and try to make Kebabs. The mixture will be too runny but applying some water will help in forming shapes.
• Place them directly on griddle (on medium flame) and drizzle some oil. Turn them after 2-3 minutes very gently. And they will be done in another 2-3 minutes.

Serve them hot with Pudina chutney, onion rings and lime wedges.

Note: Don't worry at all about the shape, they are going to be just out of the world in taste :)  
Thanks & Happy Cooking
Priyanka :))